Touch Wood bowling club, based in Bellevue Park, Wrexham, has received more than £900 from AVOW so that it can have specially trained coaches to help members play.

Players who are blind or partially sighted need the help and advice of the four coaches to help them direct the woods, to keep score and give them commentary on the game when they play.

The group, which currently has eight members, was set up a year ago after the club's chairman, Colin Gibb, was asked take part during a stroll in the park with his wife.

"I was in the park with my wife when one of the coaches explained that they were trying to set up a bowling club for the blind so I went along and had a go.

"From there we started from scratch. We started from the beginning of the season and decided to carry on again this year.

"Blind people need coaches at every game and every time they train. We need to find every year a sum of money to fund the coaches, which is about £1,000.

"We have four coaches and usually four games so that's one coach for each game.

"A lot of people think that if you can't see then you can't bowl but you can become quite accurate with proper training.

"If I was to ask you to take a bowl in your hand and throw it at a small coloured ball about 20 yards away before blindfolding you and spinning you around a few times then that is precisely what we are faced with.

"We are literally bowling into a dark grey mist because we can't see that far. Once the jack has been bowled out by the leading bowler we then need the coaches help."

The 73 year-old, from Ruabon, said the group, which meets every Wednesday, had given him new confidence after he lost his sight more than six years ago through degeneration.

"It has given me a number of things. When I lost my sight some years ago I was inclined not to go out into groups of people because once I was in a group I was literally hunting for the conversation," he added.

Touch Wood is looking for new members and is keen to let anyone with defective sight, of any age, male or female know they are welcome to join. The group meets every Wednesday between 10am and noon. For more information contact Colin on 01978 823 5550.